Kayoko Inoue | Markins Ball Head
Theme
Japanese Landscape: Autumn to Winter
Photographer
Kayoko Inoue
Date
November 2021 - January 2022
Location
Gifu, Nagano, Hokkaido
Device
Markins
Q3iTRQ-RD Ballhead
Q10iQ-RD Ballhead
PS-A9 + LS-A9 L-Plate SET
PS-A92 + LS-A92 L-Plate SET
LS-20 Lens Foot
Q10iQ-RD Ballhead
PS-A9 + LS-A9 L-Plate SET
PS-A92 + LS-A92 L-Plate SET
LS-20 Lens Foot
Sony
α7R III
α7 IV
α9
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
α7 IV
α9
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
Gitzo
GT1545T
Slik
Carbon Master 824 PRO N
Leofoto
LS-284CLin
Review
Kayoko Inoue
URL : www.kayokoinoue.jp
Born in Gifu City. Worked in the interior design industry, handling advertising and landscape photography. After losing the function of the right arm due to the aftereffects of a traffic accident in 2009, decided to pursue a career as an independent photographer. In 2016, moved to Kiyosato in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Based at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, travels across Japan, staying in the car, and photographs landscapes, starry skies, wildlife, railways, and fireworks. Currently active in a wide range of areas, contributing to corporate calendars, posters, books, and newspapers, as well as serving as a seminar instructor.
Additionally, drawing from personal experiences, continues to photograph and promote the work of artists with disabilities.
Based at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, travels across Japan, staying in the car, and photographs landscapes, starry skies, wildlife, railways, and fireworks. Currently active in a wide range of areas, contributing to corporate calendars, posters, books, and newspapers, as well as serving as a seminar instructor.
Additionally, drawing from personal experiences, continues to photograph and promote the work of artists with disabilities.
Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS)
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association (JSPA)
Lecturer at Sony Alpha Academy
NACS-J Nature Observation Instructor
Nagano Prefecture Nature Conservation Ranger
Yatsugatake Photo Festival Executive Committee Member
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association (JSPA)
Lecturer at Sony Alpha Academy
NACS-J Nature Observation Instructor
Nagano Prefecture Nature Conservation Ranger
Yatsugatake Photo Festival Executive Committee Member
- Photo Exhibitions -
2017
"Iron, Color, Exhibition" (Honfleur)
2018
"Northern Forest, Northern Land" (Kinseiken Gallery Maruya, Cafe Muro)
2021
"Beautiful Sit Landscape - Kanade" (Kenko Tokina Gallery)
"Beautiful Sit Scenery - Thoughts - (Sony Store Nagoya/Osaka)
URL : www.kayokoinoue.jp
Up until about five years ago, I had been using a three-way head, which is a standard for landscape photography, and the option of changing to a ball head never even crossed my mind.
However, as the scope of my photography has expanded year by year, I have been climbing mountains and walking long distances more and more, so I wanted to reduce the burden of my equipment as much as possible. When I switched to a mirrorless camera in 2017, I started looking for a light and easy-to-use ball head.
The first requirement for a ball head I need is that it can be used with one hand. This is because my right hand is a little weak, so I need to use only my left hand for a series of steps such as attaching the camera to the head securely, framing the composition, and tightening the knob to fix the fixed composition.
And it needs to have a reliable load capacity so that the fixed composition will not move due to the weight of the equipment, and it needs to be lightweight and compact so that it is not a burden to move.
I was looking for such a ball head, and the Markins ball head met those conditions.
The first thing I bought was the Q3iTRQ-RD lever shoe ball head. I was using the Gitzo Traveler tripod GT1545T, so this was a good match for it. I chose the lever shoe because it allows me to secure the camera with one action.
This is the most compact model among the Markins ball heads, and it holds a 100-400mm telephoto lens firmly, and even when attaching a square filter, it doesn't move unintentionally and change the composition.
Also, since there are no protruding panning scales on the head, it fits perfectly on tripods that are stored by inverting the legs, such as the Gitzo Traveler.
In 2021, I also added the Q10iQ-RD lever shoe ball head, an L-plate set ( PS-A92 + LS-A92 ) for my favorite cameras, the α7RIII and α7IV, and a lens foot ( LS-20 ) for my telephoto lens (SEL100400GM).
In the case of lever shoes, the tightening width of the shoe is constant, so even Arca-Swiss compatible plates have subtle differences in size depending on the manufacturer, and they can sometimes be loose and come off, or oversize and cannot be tightened, but by standardizing them to Markins ones, I no longer have to worry about that.
However, as the scope of my photography has expanded year by year, I have been climbing mountains and walking long distances more and more, so I wanted to reduce the burden of my equipment as much as possible. When I switched to a mirrorless camera in 2017, I started looking for a light and easy-to-use ball head.
The first requirement for a ball head I need is that it can be used with one hand. This is because my right hand is a little weak, so I need to use only my left hand for a series of steps such as attaching the camera to the head securely, framing the composition, and tightening the knob to fix the fixed composition.
And it needs to have a reliable load capacity so that the fixed composition will not move due to the weight of the equipment, and it needs to be lightweight and compact so that it is not a burden to move.
I was looking for such a ball head, and the Markins ball head met those conditions.
The first thing I bought was the Q3iTRQ-RD lever shoe ball head. I was using the Gitzo Traveler tripod GT1545T, so this was a good match for it. I chose the lever shoe because it allows me to secure the camera with one action.
This is the most compact model among the Markins ball heads, and it holds a 100-400mm telephoto lens firmly, and even when attaching a square filter, it doesn't move unintentionally and change the composition.
Also, since there are no protruding panning scales on the head, it fits perfectly on tripods that are stored by inverting the legs, such as the Gitzo Traveler.
In 2021, I also added the Q10iQ-RD lever shoe ball head, an L-plate set ( PS-A92 + LS-A92 ) for my favorite cameras, the α7RIII and α7IV, and a lens foot ( LS-20 ) for my telephoto lens (SEL100400GM).
In the case of lever shoes, the tightening width of the shoe is constant, so even Arca-Swiss compatible plates have subtle differences in size depending on the manufacturer, and they can sometimes be loose and come off, or oversize and cannot be tightened, but by standardizing them to Markins ones, I no longer have to worry about that.
Women, including myself, tend to get confused when there are many knobs and levers. In that respect, the limit dial of the Markins ball head is integrated with the ball fixing knob, so there is no chance of turning it by mistake. This makes it easy to operate without hesitation, not only during the day but also when shooting starry skies in the dark at night.
This will be a detailed explanation, but setting the limit dial prevents the ball fixing knob from being loosened too much, so it is very convenient for one-handed operation. The ball fixing knob is fixed by turning it half a turn, and the friction is set just right in advance so that the equipment will not move unless force is applied.
I will explain a little more about the plate here. The Markins L-plate is designed not to interfere with the cover so that it is easy to replace the battery. The one I used before from another manufacturer had a hard time opening the cover, which was very stressful. I am also very grateful that I can turn it vertically without changing the optical axis, and it is so convenient that I will never let go of the L-plate.
This will be a detailed explanation, but setting the limit dial prevents the ball fixing knob from being loosened too much, so it is very convenient for one-handed operation. The ball fixing knob is fixed by turning it half a turn, and the friction is set just right in advance so that the equipment will not move unless force is applied.
I will explain a little more about the plate here. The Markins L-plate is designed not to interfere with the cover so that it is easy to replace the battery. The one I used before from another manufacturer had a hard time opening the cover, which was very stressful. I am also very grateful that I can turn it vertically without changing the optical axis, and it is so convenient that I will never let go of the L-plate.
This winter was so cold that frost and diamond dust appeared in my garden. When I visited Hokkaido, the temperature was recorded at minus 26 degrees. Even in such an environment of minus 20 degrees or less, the Markins ball head could be operated without any problems.
The camera and tripod started to freeze, and it was painful to touch with my fingers, but the knob and ball of the Markins ball head moved properly.
The ball fixing knob has a rubber non-slip surface, making it easy to operate even with gloves on, and it does not stick even if you touch it with bare hands in the extreme cold, so it is very helpful for me who often shoots in such conditions.
I have explained some details above, but in conclusion, if I feel that it is easy to operate with one hand, I think it will be even easier to use for those who operate it with both hands.
Tripods and ball heads are indispensable for landscape photographers, just like cameras and lenses. So I'm sure that the Markins ball head will continue to be a great companion that will accompany me on my photography journeys.
The camera and tripod started to freeze, and it was painful to touch with my fingers, but the knob and ball of the Markins ball head moved properly.
The ball fixing knob has a rubber non-slip surface, making it easy to operate even with gloves on, and it does not stick even if you touch it with bare hands in the extreme cold, so it is very helpful for me who often shoots in such conditions.
I have explained some details above, but in conclusion, if I feel that it is easy to operate with one hand, I think it will be even easier to use for those who operate it with both hands.
Tripods and ball heads are indispensable for landscape photographers, just like cameras and lenses. So I'm sure that the Markins ball head will continue to be a great companion that will accompany me on my photography journeys.
■ Colorful Dance (Gifu Prefecture)
SONY α9 / FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSF16 15s ISO-100 / H&Y Drop in CPL + ND32 Filter
■ Autumn stripes (Gifu Prefecture)
SONY α7R III / FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSF16 1/8s ISO-100 / H&Y Drop In CPL + Soft GND8 Filter
■ Late autumn flow (Nagano Prefecture)
SONY α7R III / FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS F16 10s ISO-100 / H&Y Drop In CPL + ND64 Filter
■ Morning in the harsh winter (Nagano Prefecture)
SONY α7R III / FE 16-35mm F2.8 GMF13 1/20s ISO-100 / H&Y Soft GND8 Filter
■ Towards Tomorrow (Hokkaido)
SONY α7 IV / FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSSF16 1/50s ISO-100 / H&Y Reverse GND8 Filter
Reviewed Products
